Feed mill



Aug. 14, 1923,

A. M. DELLINGER v FEED MILL Filed July 5, 1922 EAMSSWM 2 SheetW-Sheet 1 Patented Aug 14, 1923.

"UNITED. STATES GER,: .& citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Mills, of which the following is a specification. i

The presentinve'ntion relates to feed mills and especially to feed mills wherein grain and fodder are ground and crushed in such manner as to produce a mlxed feed for cattle.

j The grinding or crushing of the grain constituent and the cutting or chopping of the stover or' fodder constituent, each sepa-.

I rately from the other and subsequently mix- "ing them has long been the practice in making mlxed' feeds. More recently, attempts have been made to produce a combined machine in Which both constituents maybe simultaneously reduced to desired size. In such machines a singlehopp er or compait 'ment is used, the fodder being out directly into this hopper and the grain ,fed or delivered directly into it at the same time and crushed by the crushing rolls. The grain, being heavierfpasses into the crushing rolls first, by which .it is crushed and fed forward to the grinding discs while the lighter fodder is last to reach the grinding discs.

The result is a very uneven mixture. In such machines you cannot regulate the proportions. Such regulation has been tried by means of slide plates arranged at the point where the mixture enters. the grinding discs,

as it leaves the hopper. Such disposition was intended to regulate the amount of grain passing to the grinding disc but, in using the slide, to reduce the amount of grain passing 40 to the plate the machines choked or clogged and became useless, so that the old arrangement of separate machines had to be returned to. So, the great difficulties of a combined machine are; unevenness of mixture and choking of the machine.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide a simple, efficient, compact and inexpensive combined grain and forage -mi1l by which a thoroughly uniform mixture may be maintained without choking or clogging. Further objects are to provide a combined mill which, without change of any kind, may also be used either as a grain mill or as a forage mil1. I In order. to more clearly disclose the construction, operation and use of the invention,

LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

' MILL.

1922. Serial No. 572,415.

reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the present application. Throughout the several figures of the drawings, like reference characters designate the same parts in the different views.

. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front perspective with the front walls removed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the regulator slide, in closed position; and,

F ig. 4 is a like view in open position. Any suitable framework 1 may be used to support the working parts of the machine.

the mill, in which crushing and mixing ele- 'ments operate and into which the several constituents of the final mixture are fed.

The body comprises two contiguous hoppers or compartments or bins 2 and 3, respectively, separated by a dividing or partition wall 4. Hopper 3 is adapted to receive the chopped forage, such as fodder, hay, etc. To that end, its upper portion is inclosed by a hood 5. The front, preferably, is closed or completed by a ,front plate 27 which is removably bolted or Otherwise removably secured in place, to give ready access to the "interior of the hopper. The rear of the hood 5, of course, has an opening for the entrance of fodder or the like, as in my prior Patent 1,117,345. Within the hood 5 is journaled the cutter shaft 6 to which are secured a plurality of cutting blades or knives 7 adapted, when rotated by shaft 6, to cut or chop the forage or fodder which passes down the fodder chute and into the opening in the rear of the hood into hopper 3, in the same manner in which it is fedto the shredders in my jprior Patent 1,117,345. There are various other ways in which the fodder may be fed to the cutting or chopping knives, of course, but the arrangement disclosed in my said patent has proven highly satisfactory. Shaft 6, it will be seen, is extended clear across to the opposite end of the machine. This is so that a pulley mounted on the outer end may be driven by a belt from the main shaft 8. At a point. near the driving end, 'it is supported by a suitable bearing carried by the wall of the grain hopper 3. The fod- .der chute along which the fodder is fed to the chopper, though very practical and highly desirable is not absolutely essential to the operation of the machine. The fodder could be fed in by hand though that would be highly impracticable for any real utility of the machine. So, a chute similar to that used in hay choppers, foddershredders, etc., is secured in position to guide the fodder directly to the cutting or chopping knives, as in my prior patent, above mention'ed.

The hopper 3 is open at the top and adapted to receive corn or any other grain which it is intended to incorporate with the fodder or other forage as a constituent of the mixed feed. The upper end or top of this hopper is left open so that the grain may be poured or dumped or fed in 111 any, desired manner. A removable frontplate Qase'cured in place by cooperating pivoted bolt and cars 25 and 26, respectively, complete hopper 3.

Extending longitudinally through the two hoppers, just slightly above the bottom of the same and projecting beyond the end walls of the hopper and, slightly, beyond the ends of the frame 1, is a main, operating,

or drive shaft 8. That section of the shaft 1 which extends through hopper 2 is provided with a plurality of spirally disposed crushing teeth or projections 9 distributed longitudinally of the shaft. As the shaft is rotated, by any usual and well known means,

the crushing teeth will cooperate with a con cave of usual and well known construction, in the bottom of the hopper, to crush between them the corn or other grain. To more effectually crush the grain, a second shaft 10 is provided, extending through the hopper 2 and ournaled in its end walls. It is geared to and driven by the main shaft 8. The gearing connection between the two is such that the shaft 10 is driven at a very crushed grain longitudinally toward the separating partition between the hoppers. At

a point adjacent the partition, the shaft is provided with a hub 12 having spirally inclined vanes or feeding plates 13 adapted to push or feed the crushed grain longitudinally toward the partition. At the point where the shaft 8 .passes through partition or wall 1 there is an opening or passage 14 of considerable size substantially concentric with main shaft -8. Thus, th crushed grain, fed forward by the vanes 13 will be deliv .ered through the opening 1 1 and into the hopper 3. That portion of shaft 8 which extends through hopper 3 is provided from end to end with a screw conveyor blade or vane 15 which works in the usual concave bottom of that hopper. It operates to feed the material in the hopper lengthwise from the separating partition into the space between the grinding discs 00 at the opposite end, by which discs it is ground and delivered in finished state, as will be readily understood. From these discs, after being thoroughly ground, the mixture discharges through an opening or spout through the lower wall of the housing or easing of the grinding discs 00. This screw conveyor,work ing in the concave, while conveying the material, also very thoroughly mixes it, re ceiving the crushed grain through the opening let and simultaneously receiving the chopped fodder through or from the fodder" chopping knives 7 Consequently, as long" as the knives 7 keep up a supply of chopped fodder and the crushing rolls keep up a supply of crushed grain, the mixture delivered by the conveyor 15 will be regular and uniform throughout. It is obvious that there can be no tendency of one constituent (the grain, for instance) to pass through the other, and be crushed and fed forward separately. In this construction, the fodder is chopped separately and in a distinct hopper and the grain is crushed separately and in a distinct hopper, the two hoppers, however, adjoining and communicating and the two operations going on simultaneously. Thus, the crushed grain and chopped fodder-are prepared separately. They are then brought together and intimately mixed, the mixture,

atthe same time, being conveyed to the I grinding discs. This completelyinsures an intimate and un form mixture.

In mixed feeds of thechara'cter herein disclosed, it is often desired to vary the proportionsof theconstit'uents. To do this, the supply or feed of one or the other or both must be controllable. This can not be accomplished by regulating the delivery of the grain 'ofthe mixture as it passes into the final grinding discs. .Atte'mpts to regulate it in that way have resulted in choking or dog ging the machine and putting it out of operation. Nor can it be accomplished by regulating the amount ofone or the other of the constituents being fed into a single hopper because, during the operation, the grain will pass through the fodder directto the crushing rolls and be crushed, fed into the-discs, ground and delivered before the fodder, resulting in two separate ground productsgrain and fodder, but no mixture. On the other hand, where the two cons-tituents are chopped and crushed in separaterbut communicating hoppers and then mixed, it is obvious that regulation of the quantity of either constituentwill affect; the composition of the resulting mixture. Thus, by

freely over the face of the yoke.

-19 in any "desired adjustment.

through the opening 14:, the composition of the mixture or the relative proportions of grain to fodder may be accurately controlled to maintain an even and uniform mixture of any desired proportions. For this purpose, a slide, shutter, or gate is provided. To the partition, 4:, directly over the main shaft 8 and on the grain-hopper side, is fixed a yoke-plate 16 of; substantially U- shape in outline, .the closed part of the plate lying above the shaft, while thetwo branches extend downwardly at either side and partly about the shaft, lyingclose to the surface of the shaft so that there is practically no space between the shaft and this yoke. At a point near the top of the U-yoke is a guide pin 17. Pin 17 plays freely in an arouate slot 18 in the substantially semi-circular slide plate" 19 which is adapted to travel Several guide fingers, lugs, pins,-or the'like, 20 extending from the yoke engage the edges of the slide plate and insure its travelling in a path concentric to the longitudinal axis of shaft 8. The slot 18 is of such length and the pin 17 is so placed, that the slide plate will just fully close the gap or openingbetween the branches of the U-yoke when the plate 19 is in one extreme position, while leaving it fully openwhen in the other extreme position, with all variations in degree of the opening, between those extremes. The head 21 of the guide pin 17 acts to retain the guide plate superposed on the U-yoke, of

course. From the outer edge of the slide plate, and a 'shortfdistance from one end projects an ear 22 to which is pivotally connected one end of a pull rod 23, by which the plate may be actuated. This rod is extended through the frontside wall 24 of the grain hopperand provided with a handle whereby it may be operated. Preferably, one edge of this pull rodis notched to catch on the edge of the walL 24 whereit passes through the same, to provide means for securing the slide -Various other arrangements might be used to attain the same result. Thus, when it is desired to increase the grain content of the mixture, it is only necessary to pull the rod out, thereby pulling or sliding plate 19 upwardly along pin 17 over the face of the yoke 16 and increasing the space between the ends of the U. To'decrease the' grain content the reverse movement is made. This, of course, is only one of the many forms of slide plates or other controlling means which may be very easily applied here, and'is intended merely'as an illustrationof one form which may be so used. r

A machine constructed in accordance with this invention really combined, in a single compact combination, three machines each performing its own particular function and any suitable source of each cooperating with the others to accomplish a single result not obtainable exceptby such a combination. On the other hand, it is obvious that, if desired, the crushing mill may be used as a crushing mill, and the fodder cutter simply cut out of operation. It is only necessary to slip the belt from the pulley of shaft 6. It is clear, of course, that the machine may also be used simply as a fodder chopper.

The feed rolls for drawing the fodder from the chute to the knives for chopping or cutting, the adj ustability of the upper one, and the chain and sprocket drive for them, as well as the fodder chute itself and its delivery to the hood 5, are all substantially the same as in the prior Patent 1,117,345, previously referred to.

Acounter shaft 28, driven by gearing from the main shaft 8 drives the feed roll mechanism, the main shaft 8 being driven from power by the pulley fixed thereto. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is l. A feed mill comprising two communieating hoppers in longitudinal alignment one adapted to receive grain and the other adapted to receive forage, means for cutting forage into the forage receiving hopper, grain crushing means within the grain hopper, means for feeding the grain from the grain hopper into the forage hopper, and means for regulating the feed of grain from said grain hopper into said forage hopper.

2. A feed'mill, comprising two hoppers one adapted in longitudinal alignment to receive grain and theother adapted to receive forage, a communicating opening being provided between the two through which crushed grain maybe fed from the grain hopper to the forage hopper, means for cutting forage into said forage hopper, means for crushing grain in said grain hopper," means for feeding the crushed grain from said grain hopper into said forage hopper, and means for regulating the size of said communicating opening to regulate the feed of crushed grain.

3. A feed mill comprising two hoppers in longitudinal alignment one adapted to receive grain and the other adapted to receive forage, a communicating opening being provided between the two through which crushed grain may be fed from the grain hopper, means for cutting forage into said forage hopper, means for crushing grain in said grain hopper, means for feeding the crushed grain from said grain hopper into said forage hopper, a slide plate adapted to regulate the size of the communicating opening, and means for actuating said slide plate. 4. A feed mill comprising two adjoining communicating hoppers one adapted to receive grain and the other adapted to receive forage, a shaft extending contlnuously through both of said hoppers, said hoppers shaft passes therethrough, a yoke plate extending about said shaft and closing the up per side of said opening, and a slide plate cooperating therewith and adapted to regulate the size of the remaining portion of said communicating opening.

5. A feed mill comprising two adjoining communicating hoppers one adapted to re ceive grain and the other adapted to receive forage, a shaft extending continuously through both said hoppers, said hoppers having a dividing wall with an opening of considerably greater diameter than the diameter of said shaft at the point where said shaft passes therethrough, a yoke plate extending about said shaft and closing the upper and side portions of said openin a slide plate cooperating therewith and adapt ed to regulate the size of the remaining portion of said communicating opening, and means for actuating said plate.

6. A feed mill comprising two adjoining communicating hoppers one adapted to re ceive grain and the other adapted to receive forage, a shaft extending continuously through both hoppers, said hoppers having a dividing wall with an opening of considerably greater diameter than the diameter of the shaft at the point where said shaft passes therethrough, a yoke plate extending about said shaft and closing the upper and side portions of said opening, a slide plate coopcrating therewith and adapted to regulate the size of the remaining portion of said communicating opening, means for actuating'said slide, and means for guiding said slide as it is operated.

7. "A feed mlll comprising two ad oining communicating hoppers one adapted to re ceive grain and the other adapted to receive forage, a shaft extending continuously through both hoppers, *said hoppers having a dividing wall with an opening of considerably greater diameter than't-he diameter of the'shaft at the point where said shaft passes through said wall, a yoke plate extending about said shaft and closing the upper and side portions of said opening, a .sli'de'plate cooperating therewith and adapted to regulate the size of the remaining portion of said communicating opening, means for actuating said slide, means for guiding said slide as it is operated, and means for limiting the slidingmovement .of said slide.

'8. A feed mill comprising two communicating hoppers, in longitudinal alignment, one adapted to receive grain and the other 'adapted'to receive forage, a'shaft extending continuously through both of said hoppers,

grain crushing means carried by said shaft within said grain hopper, conveying and mixing means carried by said shaft within said forage hopper, and conveying means carried by said shaft between said crushing means and said first mentioned conveying means and adapted to feed the crushed grain from the grain hopper to the forage hopper.

9. A feed mill comprising two adjoining communicating hoppers, one adapted to receive grain and the other adapted to receive forage, a grinding mechanism, a shaft ex tending continuously through both of said hoppers, driving connections between said shaft and said grinding mechanism, grain crushing means carried by said shaft with in said grain receiving hopper, and conveying and mixing means carried by said shaft and adapted to feed material from said hoppers into the aforesaid grinding mechanism,

10. A feed mill comprising two adjoining communicating hoppers, one adapted to receive grain and the other adapted to receive forage, a grinding mechanism, a shaft extending continuously through both of said hoppers, driving connections between said shaft and said grinding mechanism, grain crushing means carried by said shaft within said grain receiving hopper, conveying and mixing means carried by said shaft and adapted to feedmaterial from said hoppers into the aforesaid grinding mechanism, and conveying means carried by said shaft between said crushing means and the aforesaid conveying means and adapted to feed the crushed grain from the grain hopper into the forage hopper.

11. A feed mill comprising two communieating hoppers in longitudinal alignment, one :adapted to receive grain and the other adapted'to receive forage, means for cutting forage into the forage hopper, a grinding mechanism, a shaft extending continuously through both of said hoppers driving connections betweensaid shaft and's'aid grinding mechanism, grain crushing means carried by said shaft within said grain receiving hopper, mixing and conveying mechanism carried by said shaft'within said forage hopper and adapted to simultaneously mix and feed forward to the grinding mechanism the crushed grain and chopped 'for age, and conveying means carried by said shaft between the aforesaid grain crushing means and the aforesaid mixing and conveying means andadapted to feed the crushed grain from the grain hopper into the forage hopper.

l2. Aafeed mill comprising two adjoining communicating hoppers in longitudinal alignment, one adapted to receive grain-and the other adapted to receive forage, means for cutting forage into the foragehopper, a grinding mechanism, a shaft extending continuously through both of said hoppers, driving connections between said shaft and said grinding mechanism, means for driving said forage cutter from said shaft, grain crushing means carried by said shaft within said grain receiving hopper, mixing and conveying mechanism carried by said shaft within said forage hopper and adaptedto simultaneously mix and feed forward to the grinding mechanism the crushed grain and chopped forage, and conveying means between the aforesaid grain crushing means and the aforesaid mixing and conveying means and adapted to feed the crushed grain from the grain hopper into the forage hopper.

13. A feed mill comprising a set of grinding discs, a forage hopper adjoining and communicating with said discs, means for cutting forage into said forage hopper, a grain hopper adjoining said forage hopper, in alinement with said forage hopper and said discs and communicating with said for age hopper; grain crushing means within said grain hopper, means for feeding crushed grain from said grain hopper into the forage within said forage hopper, and means for simultaneously mixing the crushed grain and forage and feeding the mixture into said grinding discs.

Signed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this 30th day of June, 1922.

ABRAHAM M. DELLINGER. 

